Gold medals announced for 2016 Air New Zealand Wine Awards

Following three days of judging over 1,400 wines, 91 gold medals have been awarded in this year’s Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

Chair of Judges and Master of Wine Michael Brajkovich said the most pleasing aspect of this year’s awards was the spread of gold medals across a number of varieties and regions.

“Pinot Noir was once again the star performer with 17 golds. Predominantly the wines came from Marlborough and Central Otago, but a Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir was also in the mix.”

“The top wines from other categories were exceptional, particularly from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Syrah, and the quality of Hawke’s Bay Merlot and Cabernet-based wines took a big step up this year hailing from strong 2013 and 2014 vintages.”

In addition to the 91 gold medals, 268 silver medals and 973 bronze medals were awarded by the judges, bringing the total number of medals awarded across the 17 different classes to 1,332.

The ‘best of the best’ elite gold and trophy winning wines will be revealed at a black tie dinner in Auckland on 12 November. The dinner marks the 30th anniversary of the partnership between New Zealand Winegrowers and naming rights sponsor Air New Zealand.

Editors’ Notes:

The Air New Zealand Wine Awards are a celebration of excellence in New Zealand winemaking and are widely considered to be the country’s most prestigious wine competition. New Zealand Winegrowers, the national organisation for the country’s 1,600 grape growers and winemakers, has owned and organised the competition for the past 40 years.  For more information visit www.airnzwineawards.co.nz

The following lists the gold medal winners and the trophies they are eligible for at the black tie dinner on 12 November:

 

Gold medals by varietal

Sparkling

3

Gewürztraminer

2

Pinot Gris

8

Riesling

6

Sauvignon Blanc

14

Chardonnay

13

Sweet White Wine

5

Rosé

5

Pinot Noir

17

Merlot, Cabernet and Blends

8

Syrah

6

Other Varieties – Single

4

Total

91

 

Gold medals by region

Gisborne

2

Hawke’s Bay

26

Wellington / Wairarapa

1

Nelson

2

Marlborough

44

Canterbury

3

Otago

13

Total

91

 

JF Hillebrand New Zealand Champion Pinot Noir

Gold

Brennan B2 Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014

Eradus Single Vineyard Awatere Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2015

Giesen Single Vineyard Ridge Block Pinot Noir Marlborough 2015

Jackson Estate Vintage Widow Pinot Noir Marlborough 2014

Lake Chalice The Nest Pinot Noir Marlborough 2014

Lowburn Ferry Home Block Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014

Nanny Goat Vineyard Pinot Noir Central Otago 2015

Osawa Winemaker’s Collection Pinot Noir Hawke’s Bay 2014

Rocky Point Pinot Noir Central Otago 2015

Scott Base Pinot Noir Central Otago 2015

Thornbury Pinot Noir Central Otago 2015

Tohu Awatere Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2015

Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir Marlborough 2014

Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Marlborough 2015

 

Rabobank New Zealand Champion Chardonnay

Gold

Brancott Estate Letter Series “O” Chardonnay Marlborough 2015

Brightwater Vineyards Chardonnay Nelson 2015

Clearview Estate Coastal Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2015

Coopers Creek SV ‘Limeworks’ Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2015

Giesen The Fuder Clayvin Chardonnay Marlborough 2014

Leveret Estate Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014

Te Kairanga John Martin Chardonnay Martinborough 2015

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2015

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Chardonnay Marlborough 2015

Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Fermented Chardonnay Gisborne 2015

Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2015

 

Label and Litho Champion Sauvignon Blanc

Gold

Babydoll Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Brancott Estate Terroir Series Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Esk Valley Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Fairhall Downs Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Giesen The August Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014

Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015

Hunter’s Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Leefield Station Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Peregrine Sauvignon Blanc Central Otago 2016

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 1 Foundation Block Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 20 Cash Block Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Stoneleigh Latitude Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

 

Quay Connect Champion Other White Styles

Gold

Leveret Estate Viognier Hawke’s Bay 2015

Nautilus Albariño Marlborough 2016

 

Fruitfed Supplies Champion Syrah

Gold

Alpha Domus The Barnstormer Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2015

Mission Barrique Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2015

Mission Jewelstone Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014

Te Awa Single Estate Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2014

 

Guala Closures New Zealand Ltd Champion Pinot Gris

Gold

Mount Riley Pinot Gris Marlborough 2016

Petane Station Esk Valley Single Vineyard Pinot Gris Hawke’s Bay 2015

Stoneleigh Pinot Gris Marlborough 2016

Thornbury Pinot Gris Waipara Valley 2016

Tinpot Hut Pinot Gris Marlborough 2016

Waipara Hills Pinot Gris Waipara Valley 2016

Wairau River Pinot Gris Marlborough 2016

Wairau River Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015

 

Plumm Glassware Champion Gewürztraminer

Gold

Lawson’s Dry Hills Gewürztraminer Marlborough 2015

Whitehaven Gewürztraminer Marlborough 2016

 

Coast FM Champion Merlot, Cabernet and Blends

Gold

Church Road McDonald Series Cabernet Sauvignon Hawke’s Bay 2014

Church Road McDonald Series Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2013

Crossroads Winemakers Collection Cabernet Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2013

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2015

Te Awa Single Estate Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon Hawke’s Bay 2014

Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2014

 

Plant & Food Research Champion Riesling

Gold

Giesen Riesling New Zealand 2015

Saint Clair Premium Riesling Marlborough 2015

Vidal Estate Dry Riesling Marlborough 2015

 

WineWorks Limited Champion Sparkling Wine

Gold

Daniel Le Brun Methode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blancs Marlborough 2011

Deutz Cuvee Blanc De Blancs Methode Traditionnelle Marlborough 2013

Verde Brut Gisborne NV

 

Wine-Searcher Champion Sweet White Wine

Gold

Giesen The Brothers Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014

Riverby Estate SV Noble Riesling Marlborough 2015

Seifried Winemakers Collection Sweet Agnes Riesling Nelson 2016

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Late Harvest Riesling Marlborough 2015

Wairau River Reserve Botrytised Riesling Marlborough 2016

 

Liquorland Champion Rosé

Gold

Akarua RUA Pinot Rosé Central Otago 2016

Domain Road Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé Central Otago 2016

Whitehaven Pinot Rosé Marlborough 2016

 

New World Champion Open White Wine

Gold

Babydoll Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Brancott Estate Terroir Series Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Esk Valley Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Giesen Riesling New Zealand 2015

Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015

Hunter’s Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Leefield Station Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Mount Riley Pinot Gris Marlborough 2016

Peregrine Sauvignon Blanc Central Otago 2016

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 1 Foundation Block Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 20 Cash Block Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Saint Clair Premium Riesling Marlborough 2015

Stoneleigh Latitude Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Stoneleigh Pinot Gris Marlborough 2016

Thornbury Pinot Gris Waipara Valley 2016

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Chardonnay Marlborough 2015

Waipara Hills Pinot Gris Waipara Valley 2016

Wairau River Pinot Gris Marlborough 2016

Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

 

Dish Magazine Champion Open Red Wine

Gold

Alpha Domus The Barnstormer Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2015

Church Road McDonald Series Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2013

Jackson Estate Vintage Widow Pinot Noir Marlborough 2014

Nanny Goat Vineyard Pinot Noir Central Otago 2015

Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Marlborough 2015

 

Rangitikei Chicken Champion Exhibition White or Sparkling Wine

Gold

Archangel Chardonnay Central Otago 2015

Beach House Riesling Hawke’s Bay 2016

Maude Mt Maude Vineyard Dry Riesling Central Otago 2016

Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2014

Waipara Hills Equinox Riesling Waipara Valley 2015

 

Champion Exhibition Red Wine

Gold

Abbey Cellars Testament Cabernet Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2013

Church Road McDonald Series Marzemino Hawke’s Bay 2014

Grey Ridge Pinot Rosé Central Otago 2016

Marisco The Craft Series The Journey Pinot Noir Marlborough 2013

Matua Single Vineyard Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2013

Mission Reserve Cabernet Franc Hawke’s Bay 2014

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 15 Strip Block Pinot Noir Marlborough 2015

Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2013

Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Pinot Noir 2014

Wet Jacket Rosé Central Otago 2016